Moore Dry Dock Company (Moore Shipbuilding)

Based originally out of San Francisco, Moore Dry Dock, previously known as Moore Shipbuilding, played an integral part in repairing and building ships during World War II. However, the company’s excessive use of asbestos resulted in thousands of injured workers who developed life-threatening illnesses.

If you or a loved one suffer from mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may qualify for substantial compensation. Currently, there is over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds, awaiting those who’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos illness. Fill out our form to receive our free Financial Compensation Packet. Our packet is loaded with information on leading mesothelioma attorneys in your area, how to file a claim for asbestos trust funds, how to get paid in 90 days, and more.

Moore Dry Dock History

Moore Shipbuilding was originally located in San Francisco, California when it was founded in 1905. However, the company changed its name to the Moore Dry Dock Company shortly before the start of World War I. The company moved to Oakland, California and began repairing and building vessels.

The company delivered more than 60 ships during World War I alone, and changed its name back to Moore Shipbuilding. However, the company changed its name once again to Moore Dry Dock Company and shifted business to focus on the many ship repairs after the war. However, when World War II started, the company began shipbuilding again.

During World War II, Moore Dry Dock Company built over 100 vessels for the United States Navy. After the war ended, however, business started to decline rapidly. The company continued to focus on ship repairing for numerous years, but closed its doors permanently in 1961.

Asbestos Exposure at Moore Dry Dock

The shipyard’s excessive asbestos use, as mentioned earlier, exposed a myriad of the thousands of workers at Moore Dry Dock to asbestos. Shipbuilding and repair work went on at a rapid pace, resulting in asbestos fibers permeating the shipyard on a daily basis.

Since a lot was still not know about the dangers of asbestos, many employees and contractors at Moore Dry Dock worked in cramped quarters without the benefit of any protective gear. Although the military understood the dangers of asbestos, little was told about it shipyard workers all across the nation. Numerous workers in various different job functions at Moore Dry Dock were exposed to asbestos, including:

Pipefitters

Electricians

Welders

Boiler makers

Maintenance crew

Painters

Sanders, and more.

Second-Hand Asbestos Exposure

In addition to a myriad of workers exposed to asbestos at Moore Dry Dock Company, family members who never set foot on the shipyard were also exposed to the toxic mineral. Since workers generally did not wear protective gear and rarely changed clothes before leaving work, they would come home with clothing filled with asbestos fibers that loved ones inhaled by simply doing laundry.

Asbestos Lawsuits Against Moore Dry Dock Company

In the past, shipyards were typically not held liable for asbestos exposure. Instead, the manufacturers that shipped asbestos-containing products to the shipyards were targeted in thousands of asbestos-related and mesothelioma lawsuits.

However, during the 2000s, federal courts began making a rule that instead of plaintiffs having to prove asbestos exposure while at work, shipyards must now prove that there was no asbestos issues that harmed workers. In 2001, the new law resulted in a $700,000 victory for a former workers who built cargo vessels at Moore Dry Dock. The workers, a former seaman, died from malignant mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos at the shipyard for years.

Other similar cases resulted in much higher compensation amounts for victims. For instance, in a lawsuit that went to jury trial in 2000, the widow of a pipefitter who worked at Moore Dry Dock for several decades won $10.3 million. The pipefitter, similar to the 2001 case involving the seaman, passed away from malignant mesothelioma due to excessive amounts of asbestos used at the shipyard.

Additional Help and Resources for Asbestos Victims

If you’ve been injured by mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, keep in mind that there is a good chance that you’ll qualify for considerable compensation. Remember to fill out our from to get your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers. If you have questions or need additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.

Calculate Case Value

Author Leigh Egan

Leigh Egan has been a writer, editor, and reporter since 2005. She’s an award-winning journalist who specializes in conducting in-depth research on mesothelioma and the legal options available to asbestos victims. She has been the head writer at MesotheliomaLawyerCenter.org
since 2012.